– handlebars that is... I grew up riding horses & dirt bikes, but I really didn’t start living until I began working at a Harley-Davidson dealership. Then my life got even better when I began riding my own Harley motorcycle. Since then I haven’t looked back. After all, if you’re going to balance on two wheels, you’ve got to #KeepMovingForward

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

The day to
give friends & family ‘the bird’ is happening tomorrow: Thanksgiving Day!
And now you’re about to see everyone & their mother post on Facebook or
tweet on Twitter what they’re thankful for. Doing what everybody else is doing
is not the ‘norm’ for most bikers. Don’t get me wrong- we are very thankful
bunch for what we have and the experiences we’ve encountered. We're just not all that big on broadcasting it to the world. But this year I’m
breaking with Biker tradition and actually following the crowd.

Me & Cali

So of course
I’m thankful for the usual stuff: the fact that I raised two kids (20 & 18
years old) who are becoming decent adults, my ‘dog’ (who is just as much part
of our family as my kids are) to greet me at the door and cuddle with, my
husband for putting up with me always having to be right, my horse who is just
as much a goof-ball as I am, my job which is more fun than work, the co-workers
and customers who have become close friends, my car – especially since I have
to drive it for about six months out of the year, and yes, my 2004
Harley-Davidson® Dyna® Super Glide®.

But this
year my one “Big Ticket Item” to be thankful for is the Founding Fathers of
Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Because without them and their insight to build
a motorcycle that became ingrained in American Culture, I don’t think I would
have as much to be thankful for.

Rumor has it that Arthur Davidson and William Harley wanted an easier way to get up to their
favorite fishing hole. Bicycles were all the rage in that age, but the boys (in
their 20’s) didn’t want the work of pedaling up hill. Bill Harley – with help
from Arthur – drew up plans for an engine to go into a bicycle. But when they
tested it they found peddle power was needed to get up hills. Back to the
drawing board, and with brothers Walter & William Davidson, they began
working on the second-generation machine. Eventually the three brothers and one
friend produced ‘Serial Number One’ from their ‘factory’ – a 10x15 shed in the
backyard with “Harley-Davidson Motor Company” painted on the door.

Serial Number One

Now, nearly
115 years later, HDMC has their main headquarters in Milwaukee – not far from
where they first started out. The engines that are the heart of the motorcycle
are also built in Wisconsin, and two factories – in Kansas City, MO and York,
PA – put together the motorcycles from scratch. If you haven’t yet taken a
tour, you should. You’ll see the fenders & tanks stamped out of steel,
frames welded together and put on a cart with a build sheet for that particular
bike. As the cart rolls into each station workers immediately put what they’re
supposed to on that bike – the parts are already there. The logistics of it all
are amazing.

And yet when
these bikes roll off the assembly line, they are so much more than “just”
a motorcycle. It’s the wind in your face, the feeling as the bike leans into
the curve, the power as you roll on the throttle, and the exhilaration you feel
as you’re flying down the road. When you get a Harley® you’re not just buying a
bike, you’re getting an experience – one that isn’t easily matched.

The First Factory - a 10x15 backyard shed

I often
wonder: Did Bill Harley and Arthur, Walter & William Davidson know what
they were starting? Did they foresee how much Harley-Davidson® motorcycles –
like baseball and apple pie – would become part of American culture? The camaraderie
bikers feel as we pass each other on the road, giving the ‘Biker Wave’? How we’ll
travel 50 miles on our Harley just to get good ice cream? That they’d go from
just 15 workers to well over a million employees working in both their
factories and dealerships all over the world? If only I could go back in time
and ask!!

Sure there
were others doing the same thing – putting engines into frames to make
motorcycles. But it was these four guys who did it well and did it right. With
them I’ve found what I feel is my passion, my true calling for this Life Behind
Bars, and for that I’m truly thankful.

Friday, November 20, 2015

It is a bit
early – not even Thanksgiving week yet! – to start talking about holiday gift
guides…. BUT with the holiday season about to kick off, I thought I’d get this
out there so you can have a fighting chance!! Have that new son-in-law with a Harley®
parked in the garage? Or perhaps you drew the name of that co-worker who has
more pictures of his/her bike than pics of people in their cubicle…. Never fear
– the first ever ‘Life Behind Bars’ holiday gift guide is here!!

First off,
it really is the gift that counts with most bikers. So there’s no need to worry
if they’ve already got those pair of gloves, or that set of motorcycle themed
pint glasses. If we don’t already have it, we’ll use it. And if we already do
own the exact same gift you just gave us, we’ll put yours to use once the other
one wears out.

That being
said – if you’re planning on buying parts for his/her bike, please find out the
year, make and model of said bike! At F.X. Caprara Harley-Davidson® we really
do want you – and the recipient – to be happy! Trust me when I say that they
may be a little disappointed to find out that the gift you got them won’t fit.
And we won’t know what kind of bike it is just because it has saddlebags on it
– that could be a Switchback, Heritage, Street Glide, etc., etc. A picture can
usually help tell us the make & model, but not the year. If we have seen
the bike for service we can look it up, but if you’re shopping for Uncle Leo
two states away, please know what bike Uncle Leo is riding.

You can get
personal, just not too personal – meaning please think three times before
sending out their gas tank for a custom paint. Surprise – for most bikers their
bike is an extension of them, like an arm or a leg (yeah, it’s that important!).
Sure they may have talked about having a picture of Elvira painted on their
tank, but then changed their mind. I once freaked out my husband – I got a
bigger tank for his Sportster®…. then I had to get a different seat because of
how the two fit together…. I sent him a ‘coupon’ exclaiming how I was the best
wife in the world to do this for him while he was off fighting for our country
(he was deployed at the time). You can probably guess he wasn’t too happy with
me until he got home and saw his bike… Luckily he liked it, but it was a close
call!

Also, please
do not buy a helmet for anyone unless they’re with you trying them on and say,
“I want this one!” We’ve had customers find a bike in 5 minutes – and then take
half the day picking out their new helmet. There are half helmets, 5/8’s
helmets, ¾ helmets and full face helmets. Some with a shield, others without
one. Some with a drop down sun shield. Size runs vary depending on the
manufacturer – I fit a medium most of the time, but sometimes a large is
better. Everybody’s head is a little different, and their sense of style –
especially when it comes to a helmet – most decidedly so. If you want them to
have a new helmet for safety reasons, please either get them to go shopping
with you or get them a gift card.

So now you
have an idea of what not to get a biker for Christmas…. Here’s some helpful
ideas for what to get them:

Most Harley®
Enthusiasts love getting t-shirts, coffee mugs, shot glasses and stickers with
the dealership name on it. Especially if you live two states (or more) away, go
to your local Harley dealer and get them ‘dealer branded’ stuff. Every
dealership I stop at I always get a t-shirt & a shot glass.

GPS may be
on a lot of bikes, but motorcycle maps (not made of paper) always come in handy.
Have they been talking about riding up through Nova Scotia?? There you go!

Are they a
reader?? Books like The Harley-Davidson®
Motor Co. Archive Collection, Growing
Up Harley-Davidson®: Memoirs of a Motorcycle Dynasty, and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
are a good bet. Do they enjoy movies?? Add to their DVD collection with Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, The Wild One, The World’s Fastest Indian, or – of course – Easy Rider.

The open
road is available at home or man cave: plenty of home décor can be had for the
Harley® Enthusiast. From clocks to signs, from calendars to pint glasses to vintage
advertising – allow them to show off their biker side even when they’re sitting
on the couch.

One part
that’s a universal fit (as long as their bike has a battery) is a SuperSmart
Battery Tender. While their Harley® is sitting there it is drawing power from
the battery and can drain it in as little as six weeks. In case you’re thinking
they can just start the bike in order to charge the battery, I’m here to tell
you it’s not. The bike has to be under power -meaning you can’t just start it
& let it idle like you can with your car. A $40 battery tender now will
save them a $120 bill for a new battery later.

Check around your area for any bike raffles going on and get them a ticket (see if they have to be present to win). For instance the Fort Drum (which is right in our back yard) chapter of the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association is raffling off a Dyna® Street Bob® in June 2016, plus cash prizes, all for a mere $20 a ticket. Even if the Biker you're getting the ticket for already has a bike, they'll still appreciate another one! Motorcycles are kind of like potato chips, you can have more than one....

Set the mood
with some music: a MP3 Player is a nice gift! Even if their bike has a radio,
chances are they can still plug in a device and jam to their own tunes as they roll
down the road.

Get them
Riding Gear – gloves, head wrap, boots, and goggles. Just double check the
shop’s return policy in case of fit issues.

A picture says a lot of words, a film says 10
times more! Get ‘em a Personal Camera (think GoPro) so they can show you the
ride they took through the California Redwoods rather than just tell you.

Still not sure?? Then my best suggestion is to
get them a gift card. Bikers can always use extra funds – maybe they need $50
more towards a new leather jacket, or they want to pay down their service bill.
It may not seem very personal, but it will definitely be appreciated.

Not into the
guessing game? Have them fill out their Wish List on Harley’s website (you can
do the same too, you know) which you'll be able to see. But no matter what you decide to
give them, most bikers will not consider the gift itself, but the love
expressed by the giver.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Enlightened: to give intellectual or spiritual
light to; instruct; impart knowledge – according to Dictionary.com “Is there
such a thing as “Enlightened Bikers”?” you might be asking yourself…. Long
story short: yes there is, and we need more of them.

As of late we have seen Halloween costumes spark
an attack, racism and ‘safe places’ on college campuses, and – sadly –
terrorist attacks on the citizens of Paris. This implies some people have gone
overboard not to hurt anyone and others the extreme opposite. As for me,
there’s a common thread in all of this: too many people are concerned with
the opinions of others and are trying to control people into believing as they
do. Is this really the reason we’ve been put on this planet?

When I asked that question to Google (because if
Google doesn’t have the answer, we’re screwed – right?), it came back with a
Wikipedia link. Wiki states: the meaning of life as we perceive it is derived
from our philosophical and religious contemplation of, and scientific inquiries
about existence, social ties, consciousness, and happiness.

“Happiness” – there’s an all encompassing word!
Some of the same people who are concerned with the other people’s opinions seem
to be placing their happiness on others. For example, “I’d be happier if s/he
would spend more time with me,” or, “I’m sad because s/he said I’ve got an ugly
face.” When you do that – place or give your power to be happy to someone else,
then you play a very dangerous game. When you do that you will forever be ‘the
victim.’ Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” And she was right.

The majority of Bikers have known this Universal Truth for quite some time. The ‘biker culture’ as we know it today stems from
soldiers returning from WWII. They were fed up with society telling them what to
wear and how to act and quickly began doing things their own way while riding
their motorcycles (but this is where society began to brand all bikers as
‘outlaw’ – a whole other blog topic we’ll get around to). Notable bikers who have exemplified this truth are Bessie Stringfield, Willie G. Davidson, Wayne Rainey and Dot Robinson.

AMA Hall of Fame Inductee Bessie Stringfield

For most of us that travel around on two wheels,
we know of ‘The Biker Code.’ This is code is a basic understanding of the
culture and is less about words, more about action. Even though this code is
unspoken, it has been written down and I’ve attached a copy of it below. But
still, when we look at the traits of brilliant/successful people, they share a
lot with bikers: We are who we are – it’s as simple as that. We give respect
where respect is due but do not need anyone to validate or contradict us. It is
our responsibility to believe in ourselves, to know our worth. When you come to understand this is when you begin living your adventures in this life and can declare
your freedom.

Need more proof that bikers are happier? A study done last year proves that women riders are happier compared to women who don’t ride. (I’ll bet dollars to donuts that the male counterparts feel the same way.)
As bikers we’re comfortable in our own skin, we help others, we live for adventure
and freedom. Freedom for us to live as we please, and freedom to let others do
the same (as long as no one is hurting another). By living a Life Behind Bars
we can become better at really living the adventure. And when we achieve that,
the world just may be a better place because there will be happier people in it.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

The calendar may say that we are in the first
week of November, but this past week - with daytime highs in the 70s – had
those of us living in Northern New York thinking the calendar was more like
late August. Thanks to the jet-stream quite a few states were experiencing
warmer weather, with several states having the hottest year on record. Plenty
of people will point to Global Warming as the cause for heating things up when
they should be cooling off. But maybe it’s just “Biker Wishful Thinking.”

Heating things up on Planet Earth

Sure, Global Warming (or Climate Change) could
be to blame – there seems to be lots of science backing the claim that
greenhouse gasses trap the infrared radiation in our atmosphere and re-direct
it back at the earth. Although a recent study of Arctic Ice indicates that the
threat of Global Warming may not be as horrific as predicted. Scientists have
seen an increase in the ice over the last two years. This seems to refute the
claim that Global Warming is causing arctic ice to melt and sea levels to rise.
But I'm not here to prove or disprove any of these theories - I think that the recent
spike in warm weather was caused by me and other Motorcycle Enthusiasts.

This time of year the weather can be
unpredictable. Shorter days, temperatures (usually) getting cooler, rain brings
a dampness to the air, and frosted windshields in the mornings are all saying
that the riding season is nearly done. And once the salt trucks come out then
that’s it – it’s over! (Because salt mixing with steel and chrome just isn’t a good
thing.) So right now you’ve got a pretty large group of people wishing for just
one more week, day or hour of good riding weather. The freedom of riding on two
wheels cannot be exactly matched by anything else. And
for those of us living North of the Mason Dixon line, where the snow and ice tend to dominate half of the year, we want to extend our riding season - and that freedom - as much as
possible.

Subatomic Particles Moving To The Groove

My mom used to say, “Be careful what you think
because it may come true.” I thought she was confusing the whole “be careful
what you wish for” bit that I’ve said to my kids plenty of times, but it turns
out she was right. (Did you hear that mom??) Scientists have influenced the behavior of subatomic particles they’re observing with what’s on their minds –
this has been proven over and over again. And lots of successful people also
tell of their similar belief – Henry Ford often said, “Whether you think you
can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re probably right.” Given all of that,
it’s by no stretch of the imagination that a group of bikers can influence the
weather!!

Perhaps
all of us “thinking warm thoughts” can bring about good riding weather…. Maybe
it was the greenhouse gasses heating things up…. But then suddenly that song by
The Rolling Stones pops into my head:

Show. “What’s going on here?” you might be asking. I call it
planning ahead.

Yamaha's Motobot

Yes – you read that correctly: there has been a robot
invented just to ride motorcycles. Why can’t I get that job?? (Oh ya, that’s
why!) Researchers will be able to download information that will help develop
advanced rider safety and rider-support systems. The Motobot will have full
control over the throttle, braking system, clutch & transmission, as well
as steering of an unmodified motorcycle. Still in development, Motobot’s end
goal is to take a bike down the track at 124mph.

Much has been advanced in the name of motorcycle safety
thanks to forward thinking companies like Harley-Davidson and Yamaha. Gone are
the days of drum rear brakes, no front brake at all, no turn signals (unless
you count the rider physically indicating which way they’re turning), turning
the fuel on, opening the choke and having to kick-start the motor. Now we have
ABS braking systems, electronic fuel injection, electric start and real turn
signal indicators. But that didn’t just happen – engineers had a plan and
brought it to fruition.

After all, that’s what we bikers do while riding: Plan Ahead. We plan which roads we’ll take, our vacation time, when to
get our bikes serviced, plan ‘pit stops’ on the road, and on and on. Of course
there’s no way to plan for everything. Not to mention, you don’t want to over
plan either – then the experience just feels to “regimented.” There’s a
cardinal rule that was taught to me when I first started riding: while on a
motorcycle road trip, never make hotel reservations. The reason being is
because you don’t know how the day riding is going to pan out. So it’s best to
simply ride the planned route and when you feel like stopping, then find a
hotel room where you are. This past summer I did not follow the cardinal rule, and I paid for it!! I’d planned to do about 8 hours riding – but those 8 hours didn’t include the Massachusetts traffic jams I got stuck in. I ended up with a terrible migraine and HAD to stop – so I paid for the hotel room I wasn’t in (a deal I found online that required prepayment) and the hotel room I did stay in.

Long story
short, it’s still a good idea to keep the “5 P’s” in mind. A military acronym
which stands for:

Life Behind Bars

About Me

Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Enthusiast, Mom of two grown kids, Marine Corp Mom, working full time at a FX Caprara Harley-Davidson as the marketing manager, events coordinator, warranty administrator and NNY H.O.G. manager & secretary. Basically just trying to balance life on two wheels behind bars.